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Published:
December 16, 2007
Burnham-On-Sea Coastguards issue safety plea to Berrow motorists
Emergency
services fear lives could be put at risk if motorists continue
to block access onto a beach near Burnham-On-Sea.
Coastguard
and rescue hovercraft crews say they are worried that access onto
Berrow beach has been blocked several times during recent weeks
by motorists parking vehicles in front of the access gates opposite
Unity Farm.
 Sedgemoor
District Council closed the gates in October to prevent vehicles
using the beach over the winter period and they are not due to
re-open until Easter - but some walkers have been parking in front
of the gates before wandering onto the beach.
Coastguards
and crew members from BARB - the organisation that runs Burnham's
two hovercrafts - fear valuable time could be wasted in getting
vehicles moved in the event of an emergency.
Coastguard
Officer Steve Bird said: "We are warning people not to park
in front of these gates and risk blocking access to the emergency
services. Continual access to the beach is required 24 hours a
day."
BARB
Chairman Mark Newman added: "We have had call-outs to Brean
and Berrow over previous Christmas holiday periods when walkers
have got into difficulty on the mudflats. Access onto the beach
here is vital."
RELATED
LINKS:
 Burnham-On-Sea
Coastguards official website
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